Islamic State Recruited Canadian Woman to Join Fight in Syria

by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi • Feb 25, 2015 at 3:10 pm

Some points to note here:

1. Featuring the Islamic State flag on one's Twitter profile and following the group's members are sure signs of sympathy/support for the Islamic State.

2. Interesting case here of being encouraged to join the Islamic State by someone residing in the suspect's home country. This is hardly unparalleled: witness Anjem Choudary in the UK and his own support for the Islamic State. As the mentor of Hindu convert to Islam Abu Rumaysah, Choudary undoubtedly played a part in Abu Rumaysah's eventual escape to Syria to join the Islamic State. To be contrasted with apparent radicalization of three UK schoolgirls by a woman already residing in Islamic State territory with a social media presence.

3. A researcher quoted here wonders aloud what could motivate women to join the Islamic State given the "servitude-type roles". Answer: ideology. The group offers women the chance to have an active role in the running of the state structure, such as the al-Khansaa Battalion in Raqqa to enforce Islamic law.

***The family of a young Canadian woman who travelled to Syria after being radicalized say losing her was the most "shocking thing in the world" and that they wish CSIS had done more to prevent the 23-year-old's departure.

The woman, whom CBC News is calling Aisha to protect her identity, made the journey to Syria to join up with ISIS last summer, after taking an online course to study the Qur'an taught by a woman based in Edmonton, says her older sister Rabia (whose name has also been changed).***